Egypt: Top court orders retrial of three jailed Al-Jazeera journalists

In some respite for three jailed Al-Jazeera journalists, Egypt's top court has ordered a retrial in a case pertaining to spreading false news and aiding a terrorist group.

Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy, Egyptian Baher Mohamed and Australian citizen Peter Greste were earlier sentenced to between seven and 10 years in prison for spreading false news and assisting the banned Muslim Brotherhood.

The trio have denied collaborating with the banned outfit and claimed that they were simply reporting news.

According to BBC, the decision was made after a hearing in Cairo of an appeal by Greste, Fahmy and Mohamed, against their conviction.

Earlier in the week, the parents of one of the jailed Al-Jazeera journalists said that they were confident that the three journalists will be released soon.

Peter Greste's father had told the BBC that he was optimistic the journalists' convictions would be overturned soon.

During the hearing on Thursday, 1 January, prosecutors had acknowledged that there were major problems with the verdict, defence lawyers said.

A new trial will occur within a month, until then the journalists must stay in custody, the judges ruled.